1140 a YMr In Advance
-FOR QOO, FOR COUNTRY AND FOR TRUTH."
Slngl CoplM, Cent.
VOL. XXVII.
PLYMOUTH, N. C, FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 1917.
NO. 35.
PRESIDENT IMS
INEVITABLE STEP
ASKS AUTHORITY TO ARM MER
CHANTMEN AND OTHER NEC
ESSARY MEASURES.
FOR AN ARMED NEUTRALITY
Immediate Response Was Introduc
tion in House of Bill Empowering
President to Furnish Merchantment
With Guns and Gunners.
Washington. President Wilson took
the inevitable step and asked Con
gress for authority to use the forces
of the United States to protect Ameri
can ships and lives against the Ger
man submarine menace to put the
Nation in a state of armed neutrality.
The immediate response was the in
troduction in the House of a bill em
powering him to furnish guns and
gunners to American merchantmen,
'to employ such other instrumentali
ties and methods" as may become
necessary, and providing for a $100,
000,000 bond issue to be used in his
discretion for war insurance to en
courage American commerce to brave
the submarine peril. The bill may be
brought up in the House with special
rules for its immediate consideration.
The President's long expected act
ion, while received in the main with
expressions of support, threatens to
force an extra session of Congress.
The Republicans, disinclined to
grant him blanket authority while
Congress is in recess, give evidence of
opposing the legislation tne President
asks, not for the purpose of withhold
ing it, but to force him to have Con
gress in special session to take a hand
in the next steps, which they feel will
lead to war'. The Republicans are re
ceiving passive support from the
Democratic element classed as "paci
fist." The President's advisers deplora
this situation for its effect in Ger
many, where they are convinced it
will feed the official impression that
Congress will not support the Presi
dent if he finds it necessary to go to
war, and that he is not speaking the
sentiments of a united country.
The President's request for author
ity to "use other instrumentalities" is
the principal sticking point. Even
the Republicans and some of the Dem
ocrats who hesitate to give him what
he asks, say they would be willing to
give him authority to arm American
ships or act on a definite proposal,
but are reluctant, to "sign a blank
check."
The Administration faces this divis
ion in its own ranks in its effort to
convince the Kaiser that the United
States is now preparing to enforce
respect for its rights on the high seas.
Some Democrats point to the Presi
dent's own statement that he consid
ered that he had already implied
authority to act, and might do so
without sanction of Congress. Mr.
Wilson himself, however, said he pre
ferred not to act on implications, and
did not desire to be left without spe
cific authority and no Congress to
which to turn. All these things point
towLid an extra session, although a
way out may develop at the last mo
ment. TWENTY-SIX AMERICANS
WERE ABOARD LACONIA.
Seems Cirtain That Some Were Lost
Official Reports Lacking.
New York. Twenty-six Americans,
six of whom were cabin passengers
and twenty paid members of the
crew, were on board the Cunard
Liner Laconia. from New York Feb
ruary 18 for Liverpool with 75 pas
sengers and a crew of 216, when the
vessel was sunk by a German subma
rine Sunday night. One casualty, as
yet unidentified, was officially report
ed by the Liverpool office of the line
of officials here.
The registered tonnage of the La
conia was 18,150 gross, her length was
625 feet, and she had a beam of 72
feet. Designed for high-class passen
ger trade, her fittings were models of
modern marine architecture.
The names of the American pas
sengers and their addresses as given
by the line here, and confirmed in
part by relatives in the United States,
are as follows:
Floyd P. Gibbons, of The Chicago
Tribune.
Mrs. F. E. Harris, wife of Lieut.
Col. Frank E. Harris, United States
Coast Artillery Corps, stationed at
Fort Dupont, near Philadelphia.
PLAN INDUSTRIAL
MOBILIZATION
COMMITTEE OF ONE HUNDRED
BEING APPOINTED TO AR
RANGE PROGRAM.
NATIONAL DEFENSE COUNCIL
Will Co-operate in Organizing Indus
trial and Civilian Activities of Na
tion "In View of the Critical Situ
ation." New York. A tentative program
i'or mobilization of the industrial and
civilian activities of the Nation "in
view of the critical situation," will
be outlined by a committee of 100 na
tional leaders of capital, labor, agricul
ture, and organizations of citizens of
foreign descent, it was announced here
by V. Everet Macey, president of the
National Civic Federation.
The committee which is now being
appointed, will co-operate with the
committee on industrial mobilization
of the National Council of Defense.
Its formation was authorized at the
recent meeting in this city of the Fed
erations executive council at night
members of the defense council urged
the necessity of co-ordinating civilian
activities with those of the nation,
states and municipalities.
"Concerted effort, poise and knowl
edge will be requisite to deal with the
question of how far the government
shall enter into private industry
through the stress of war necessity,"
Mr. Macey said in a statement out
lining the scope of the committee's
program. "But it is the duty of
American economists, business men,
labor and agricultural leaders to take
care that this is done as an 'emer
gency war measure,' so to speak. -
"In ttie event of war with the Cen
tral Powers, this country would face
problems never faced by any othf-r
country, growing out the fact that
33,000.000 of its population are either
foreign-born or of foreign or mixed
parentage and that 28,000,000 came
from the countries now at war, many
having transferred to our shores their
hatreds and sympathies.
"These transplanted antagonisms
will produce their own peculiar prob
lems, the solution of which will call
for understanding, tact and patience."
EXPLANATION MADE BY
THE GERMAN LEGATION
As to "Relative Safety" Promised
Dutch Vessels Navigating the
English Channel.
The Hague. The statement issued
by the German legation here to the
effect that the torpedoing of the seven
Dutch merchantmen was due "to an
extremely regrettable coincidence of
circumstances which is. unfortunate,
but was beyond our control," contains
also an explanation, made, it says, "to
prevent erroneous impressions."
It states that In view of the situa
tion of Dutch vessels in English ports
the sailing time for these ships was
first fixed for February 5, then for
February 9, and then for midnight of
February 10. Finally "for reasons for
which -England was to blame," the
sailing date was postponed to Febru
ary 22 or March 17. The only date of
sailing for which absolute safety from
submarines could be guaranteed was
March 17. the statement says, as by
that time all German submarines
would have possessed instructions in
regard to these vessels. Even then,
safety from mines could not be guar
anteed, shippers having been warned
on Feb. 6 that the danger rone had
been mined extensively. For the same
reasons, the statement says, until Mar.
5, relative security, meaning safety de
pendent on good fortune, will apply to
the channel to the west of Denmark
through which Dutch transAllantic
shipping must pass.
FODDER DESTROYED;
MUST KILL CATTLE
The Hague, "via London. A large
amount of fodder was on board of the
merchantman torpedoed on last week.
In consequence, it will be necessary
to kill a larre part of Holland's cattle.
FOUR KILLED AND THREE
INJURED IN BIG WRECK
Philadelphia. Four persons were
killed and three injured, two seriously,
in a double wreck on the New York
division of the Pennsylvania Railroad,
near Bristol. Penn. All of the victims
with the exception of J. R. King, aa
engineer, were attendants in charge
..f..vii cur of thoroughbred uorses De
PAY-UP
viMfPMuR son in ifcecrry
CCopyrig-ht.)
OFFICIALS ARE VOTED FREE
PROBERS INTO LEAK ON PEACE
NOTE HAVE COMPLETE
REPORT.
Fails to Substantiate Charges Against
the Government Officials. Short
Selling on New York Exchange is
Criticized in Report.
Washington. Vindication of all
public officials whose names were
brought into the investigation of
charges that there was a leak to Wall
Street on President Wilson's peace
note was voted unanimously by the
House Rules Committee. The report
has been put in final shape after cer
tain additional records of New York
brokers have been examined.
"It is understood the committee
finds that Thomas V. Lawson's sen
sational charges were not substanti
ated; that R. W. Boiling, brother-in-law
of the President, had nothing to
do with a "leak" and that advance
information concerning the note was
furnished to brokers by J. Fred Es
sary and W. W. Price, local news
paper men, who connected deductions
with facts obtained in conversations
with other reporters who had been
told in confidence by Secretary Lan
sing that a note was coming.
In connection with violations of
newspaper ethics, the report says a
sub-committee has been appointed to
confer with the standing committee
of correspondents to determine what
changes shall be made in the rules
regulating the admission to the con
gressional press galleries.
No recommendations are made, but
the practice of selling short on th
New York Stock Exchange was criti
cised. F. A. Connolly, a local broker,
is censured for his testimony before
the committee and E. F. Button and
Company for failing to produce copies
of all mesages concerning the note
which reached its office.
ALL WOMEN WITHDRAW
FROM INAUGURAL PARADE.
Controversy With Chairman Harper
Because State Foats Were Rul
ed Out.
Washington. A controversy over
what part women shall take in the in
auguration ceremonies came to a
head with an announcement by Mrs
James H. Boggs, president of the
Women's Wilson Union and a member
of the Inaugural Committee, that be
cause of a ruling barring from the
inaugural parade a section of stat
floats being organized under her direc
tion, she had declared "the withdrawal
of all women from the parade."
Robert N. Harper, chairman of the
committee, replied to the announce
ment with the .statement that Mr.
Boggs had no authority to declare
such a withdrawal. He said women
were wanted in the parade, and thit
the state floats had been barred only
because the plan? for them were in
pciraj aq euj a3Bis b ujwuaoun os
they could not be completed in time
to conform to the committee's stand
ards. RESOLUTION TO POSTPONE
DATE OF "BONE DRY" BILL.
Washington. Postponement of the
effective date of the "bone dVy" pro
hibition amendment to the poWoffice
bill which has just been adopted unt'l
October 1, 1917, is proposed in a) con
current resolution introduced bytRep
resentative Moon, of Tennessee, ctafi'-
o PrmtniTice Committee. Mr.
WEEK
A
L 'DONE DRY' DILL
ABSOLUTE PROHIBITION MAKES
LONGEST STRIDE IN
HISTORY.
Measure Has Already Passed the Sen
ate and Will Shut Off All Shipments
of Whiskey Into States Now Dry.
Washington. Absolute prohibition
legislation took its longest forward
stride in the Nation's history when
the House, after two hours of uproar
ous debate, approved by a four to ono
majority a Senate measure which
would raise an iron-clad barrier
against importation of liquor into pro
hibition states. It is expected to re
ceive the approval of President Wilson
within a week, adding immediately to
the "bone dry" territory about one
third of continental United States.
The provision is said to be the most
far-reaching that could be enacted hy
the Federal Government, and as
sweeping as would be possible unti!
any method short of a National pro
hibition amendment. It would cut off
entirely liquor importations, amount
ing now to millions of dollars annual
ly, into the large number of states
which have forbidden manufacture or
sale, but have permitted importation
for personal use.
Advocates of prohibition divided
themselves over the expediency of the
step, some friends of the cause de
claring so drastic a law would have a
reactionary effect. In the same way.
those who have opposed prohibition
were not unanimous in opposition
when the vote was taken. The roll
call brought cheers and cries of "bone
dry" from all parts of the House, how
ever, and the result was greeted with
a noisy demonstration.
The vote as officially announced was
321 to 72, but a recheck of the roll
changed it to 319 to 72. Party lines
were completely broken down, and
numerous Representatives from promi
bition states were recorded in the
negative. So large a vote seldom is
recorded on any measure.
SAYS MRNACE OF SUBMARINES
WILL SOON BE SOLVED.
Great Britain's Navy at Grips With
German U-Boats, Declare Carson.
London. In introducing the naval
estimates in the House of Commons,
Sir Edward Carson, First Lord of the
Admiralty, said the vote for 400,000
men which the government was ask
ing demonstrated the strength of the
navj. He expressed the opinion that
the country was extremely fortunate
in having Admiral Jellico at the head
of the Admiralty. Admiral Beatty,
continued Sic Edward; was now com
manding the greatest fleet which ever
sailed the sea, and had the complete
confidence of fhe officers and men.
In announcing that he had reecivei
reports of 40 encounters with subma
rines in the first 18 days of February.
Sir Edward said:
"The fact that we got to grips with
them more than 40 times in 18 days
was an enormous achievement."
ONE DEAD. NINE HURT AS
RESULT OF RIOT OF WOMEN.
Philadelphia. Pa. A riot by the
wives of striking employes of the
Franklin Sugar Refining Company, re
sulted in the killing of one man and
the serious injury of nine others when
the police and strikers clashed near
the refinery.
The dead man fell before a police
volley fired as the rioters showered
bricks on reserves rushed from city
hall. Mounted Police Sergeant Jolly's
OF FOUR MILLION
BIG ARMY WOULD BE PROVIDED
UNDER UNIVERSAL SERVICE
BILL.
SUGGESTS WIDE PUBUGIH
Secretary Baker Wants Benefit of a
Thoughtful Public Opinion. Bill is
Sent to Senate By Secretary of War.
Washington. The Army General
Staff universal service bill was trans
mitted to the Senate Military Com
mittee by Secretary Baker without a
definite expression by the Administra
tion either on the general subject or
the specific proposal.
The Secretary suggested that wide
publicity be given the staff plan "to
the end that both Congress and the
War Department can, In any subse
quent consideration given to the sub
ject, have the benefit of an enlight
ened, thoughtful public opinion upon
the needs and wishes of the coun
try." In round numbers, the staff plan
would supply a trained force of 4,
000,000 men with one year of intensive
military Instruction. It is estimated
by the War College that approximate
ly 500,000 boys in their nineteenth
year would be available for training
annually. They would, under the
plan, be liable to call to the colors
until 32 years of age, and then would
pass into the unorganized reserve un
til 45 years of age.
The bill's purpose is to constitute
a first reserve of 1.500,000, ready to
respond instantly to a call to arms.
A second reserve of equal size, but
only partially equipped, would require
some time to take the field. Ey
all', there would be l.OOO.OO'
tional men ready to fill in gap;-
front.
In addition, there would li
lar army of 24,400 officers
8S6 enlisted men. Of th
would farm the oversea
29.000 the frontier force:
der composing the per
ing personnel which o
of the instruction of
annually. If the prop
able men for trainin
tl in estimated the perA
ing force would have T
tionately increased.
SAN FRANCISCO HOT
MEMORY
Remains of Hero Lie-'
Interment at
San Francisco. Th
Gen. Frederick Funstj
San Antonio, Texas!
night, arrived here oi
Pacific Railroad fori
Presidio.
A drizzling rait
ml LUJT UL-
ifcoast ar
fleers and four cor
tillery who stood
il under
arms as the flowi
r-cet was
taken from the
irse.
The funeral co
1 to the
City Hall where.
'lying in
state. At the
pong th
line of march,
civilians
stood, heads bi
rain, in
memory of thl
ildier who
won the heart?
ranciscans,
for what he
when they
were homelet
the chaotic d;
-stricken in
06 fire and
earthquake.
VILLISTAS
UTING
IN,
F JAUREZ.
El Paso,
reported to
'la troops are
Intrating in the
angle formedl
Mexican Central
and Mexico
stern Railroad,
south of Juaj
uhe Guerrero and
in the St.
district west of
Chihuahua C
,e State capital
again is thr.
with attack, and
residents of
be beseiged
fear that city will
i'a troops. Villa's
main comma
r.-s rhprl Sa
reported to have
Chi.iuahua.
Wounded! Jf
brought acl
the fight at
iza soldiers were
border, following
, Chihuahua.
CUBAN GOVERNMENT
FORCES ARE DELAYED.
Havana. The Government forces
under Colonel Pujol have been delay
ed in their advcf caainst Cama
guey. Capital-if T' of Cam-
aguey, and y pass
ed withoutj .Col
onel Pujor at
the reb
8istance
V -
HOICK FORMALLY
IS MADE PRESIDENT
HEAD OF NORTH CAROLINA A.
AND M. COLLEGE TAKES OATH
OF OFFICE.
GLARK ADMINISTERS THE OATH
Gov. Biekett Presided and Ceremonies
Were very Impressive. Dr. Drink
er of Lehigh Speaker.
Raleigh. "Wallace Carl Riddick was
impressively inducted to the office of
preident of the North Carolina Col
lege of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts,
succeeding Dr. D. H. Hill, who has for
six months been devoting his energies
and talents to the preparation of "The
History of North Carolina's Part in
the Civil War."
The ceremonies were most success
ful and inspiring, opening with the
academic procession consisting of 11
divisions, and including college facul
ty, student body, alumni, Btate officers,
trustees, delegates from societies, from
universities and colleges the country
over, and the staffs of the State De
partment of Agriculture and Experi
ment Station and Extension Service.
Governor Biekett presided at the
inaugural exercises in Pullen Hall,
and made a brief and forceful speech
on the scope and responsibility of
the college in its relation to the state.
There were addresses by Presideut
Drinker, of Lehigh University, and
Dr. Herbert Quick, of the Federal
Farm Loan Board.
The oath of office was administered
by Chief Justice Walter Clark, and
the formal induction to office was by
Governor Biekett. President Riddick
spoke comprehensively of the work
and aims of the college-the training
W. C RIDDICK
In agriculture, in textiles and in engi
neering and other avocations, of the
special short courses to meet the
needs of the great army of boys and
grown-ups who cannot take the regu
lar college training, but have time for
a few weeks each season to better fit
themselves for life. He laid down a
broad platform for liberal education
and high technical training, seasoned
and elevated by the Christian culture
that makes for the well rounded and
polished manhood.
There were greetings by President
E. K. Graham, of the State University;
Dr. W. L. Poteat, of Wake Forest; Dr.
J. Y. Joyner, for the public schools;
Editor Clarence Poe, of The Progres
sive Farmer; Major W. A. Graham,
Lieutenant Governor O. Max Gardner,
James Edgar McDougal, for the senior
class and others. The invocation and
benediction was by Rt. Rev. Joseph
Blount Cheshire, Bishop of the Diocese
of North Carolina.
After the ceremonies there was n
sumptuous luncheon served the spe
cial guests and the members of the
Legislature and state officers.
Optometrists Hold Annual Meeting.
Greensboro. The North Carolina
Scientific Section of Optometry held
Its regular monthly meeting here In
Dr. J. W. Taylor'c office. This being
the time for the annual election of offi
cers, the following were chosen: Pres
ident. Dr. A. P. Staley; vice president.
Dr. A. G. Spingler; secretary-treasurer.
Dr. J. Fred Tesh. After the transac
tion of business the section went into
a scientific session, many subjects af-
fecting the profession of optometry
"-rft discussed, demonstrations la.
IF F.
r r n
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f Maj. Y, -A ';-..; "
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